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The Lion King | 35
Although cholesterol is important and necessary
for humans, high levels of cholesterol in the blood
can damage arteries and are potentially linked
to cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and
stroke. This happens when the amount of choles-
terol in our diet plus the natural cholesterol made
inside the body add up to levels that are too high.
When there’s too much cholesterol in the blood, it
deposits inside the arteries, this is a serious prob-
lem because over time this causes narrowing
of the arteries, which in turn restricts the flow of
blood to vital organs. If the blocked blood vessel is
in your brain, it can lead to a stroke, if it happens in
the coronary artery, it can lead to a heart attack.
TYPES OF CHOLESTEROL
There are three types namely:
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL):
often known as
bad cholesterol
- this carries cholesterol around
the body and can deposit it in the artery walls.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL):
also known as
good cholesterol
, this takes cholesterol away
from the walls of the blood vessels to the liver,
where it’s either broken down or excreted. It pre-
vents the formation of LDL and prevents it from
affecting the arteries and the heart.
HOW CHOLESTEROL LEVELS ARE DETERMINED
Unfortunately, there are no signs or symptoms of
high cholesterol, so the only way to know if it is
high or not is by getting it checked. This is done by
means of a blood test.
Total Cholesterol Levels:
Total Cholesterol is the sum of the amount of LDL
and HDL (see below) in the blood stream.
Health Tips
Cholesterol
Range
Classification Remarks
Less Than
200
Good
Low risk of
coronary heart
disease
200-239 Borderline
High
Possibility of
development of
heart disease
240 and
Above High
Double the risk
of coronary
heart disease
than those in
the normal
range
Cholesterol Range Classification
Less Than 100
Excellent
100-129
Good
130-159
Borderline High
160-189
High
190 and Above Very High
Cholesterol
Range Classification Remarks
60 and
Above
Good
Protective
against
coronary
heart
disease
Less than
50 (for
women)
High Risk
Possibility of
developme
nt of heart
disease
Less than
40
High Risk
Possibility of
developme
nt of heart
disease